High Scores

[hgengstrom]

I think I have peaked as far as scoring goes. I have terraformed the whole world and have about 100 extra science. I will finish off my opponents (except one city) and do not play space ships. I also have the science city and I try to go to Democracy overdrive as soon as I've conquered everyone.

From looking at the score page it looks like the main variables are population and extra science. It seems to me that the only way to increase would be a larger land mass (more cities and more population) and more time (time to increase science and population).

I am going to select larger land mass when starting the game and have been trying to improve my speed. I know some people seem to conquer the world at incredible speed(?)

Perhaps I need to move up to the next level? Anyway, I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions you might have.

 

[Smash]

Sounds like its gotten a little boring and a tad on the tedious side.That means its time to move up.Maybe go up 2 levels(if possible)

 

[goodbye_mr_bond]

Are you going for a Hall of Fame game? Because otherwise, playing for high score is pretty boring, don't you think?

My tip is: go up a level, choose a large map, and set everything on random. Then play for the challenge of it! It's a lot more worthwhile than double-irrigation...

 

[stormerne]

In general I agree with the other guys.

However if you feel you could use the practice at early rapid expansion, play some part games like that and refuse to go beyond (say) 1000 CE. You will certainly need to be able to do this sooner or later. Here's a suggestion: download the GOTM #2 game and see how many cities you can build before the year 1000 CE. Don't count any you capture. See if you can build 50 or more. If you can't, come back to this forum and we'll discuss expansion strategies.

And in your original game, don't forget to build on the poles! If you're on a medium map you can build another 50 cities there for best points. See my Polar Strategies thread.

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"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage" - Anais Nin

 

[Kev]

My one suggestion is instead of terraforming the entire world so early, use those settlers and engineers to build new cities ASAP. The perfectionist style is a very workable strategy for winning in general, but to go for a score the three most important actions are expand, expand and expand (yeah, I stole that saying). When I'm in the early game, I almost never build roads or irrigation as I'm just worried about getting that settler to a spot to build. I also like going for the Lighthouse and Magellan's so my ships can get settlers to other continents to establish footholds quickly.

Not having roads in the beginning is usually fine with me as it slows down attackers, and where do I have to go anyway? I won't be shifting units from city to city at this stage. Further, while it can be handy to get caravans to cities building wonders, I find it quicker to build several ships and transport them as many of my early cities are coastal. Building irrigation takes way to long for settlers in my opinion as well. The only time I'm improving with settlers is if I've built one on a full continent and there is no ship nearby to transport them - then I go for roads and the like. Of course, my first choice when starting with roads is try to build them around the city I've designated as a science city. I'll also improve land with any "wandering nomads" I find as they have no support needed.

Later in the game, I'll have hordes of engineers irrigating swamps, jungles and forests away looking for growth as well as making irrigation and farmland. But, as others have suggested, for scoring it may be better to go for early quantity and late quality.

You also mentioned that you do not play with spaceships. I think the potential space race can add an extra element to the game and like playing with that option - but keep in mind that a fully loaded ship can get you extra points as well.

In any case, unless you're going for a Hall of Fame score or personal best, it may be more fun and challenging to try several different levels and strategies and see which one you enjoy the most rather than the one that nets a bigger score.

I'll shut up now.

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Diplomacy - the art of
saying "Good Doggie"
until you can find a rock

 

[Flatlander Fox]

I guess I just have never seen what was so interesting about the science of scoring as high as you possibly can. I mean, breaking it down to the city squares needed and all the other intangibles is pretty cool, but I had never really thought about it before I had visited this site. I have lost maybe 5 games of Civ in 9 years of playing (Disregarding the cheapo Barb or other Civ loss in the first 10 turns). But I just concentrated on winning, not scoring as high as possible. Playing for the high score is pretty neat, but it just takes a more meticulous route than just building all of your WOW before the next guy.

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It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at THAT man.

 

[Archbob]

Hall of Fame games get quite boring after a while. I did about 586% on king and I don't have the patience to do any more of those games.

 

[shadowdale]

Well yes, it can be a real bore to play for the high score, and it usually take extremly long to completet the game. But afterwards is the fun part, especially if you did get the high score!!! Then you get to hear a lot of people telling you that they are going to beat your score, or die trying!!! It's a way to test you skills and your patients!!!

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Coolbook:
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[Archbob]

High score is boring unless your going to HOG, even then its still boring.

 

[Cunobelin Of Hippo]

Yeah, I agree wholeheartedly. I'm all about efficiency, which means no terraforming, no building up pop for score, no future teching (money instead).......the game is to be fun, not to be won

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C Of H: Director Of Anti-Zulu Propaganda @ the Anti Zulu Cult. Join today! No spammers need apply.

 

[MrSparkle]

Cunobelin Of Hippo's comment of "the game is to be fun, not to be won" is soooo true. I tried a HOF game once, got half way, got bored and haven't played Civ 2 since. It really took the fun out of the game.

What;s really fun is destorying an entire civilization, 20 cities or more, in one turn. The Carthagians had nukes and i couldn't be bothered dealing with them so i decided to build up a huge amount of cruise missle and paratroopers and kill them in one turn.

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I am disrespectful to Dirt! Can you not see that I am serious?

 

[goodbye_mr_bond]

After seeing the very high scores in the HOF, I never really thought that I'd make a run for it. It's just too time-consuming.

HOWEVER, I just finished playing a Deity game that I never thought would qualify for HOF (as all the options were random, so no barb bonus, smallish landmasses, etc). Still it was so much fun I decided to make a push for a high score at the end, and I got over 800%!

I've submitted it to the HOF. I'll probably be in 10th or whatever, but it was one of the most fun games I've played. So yes, fun & high score CAN go together!

And disregard what I said in my earliest post... double irrigation RULES!

 

[SunTzu]

i always play for high score. Whether i'm playing for the HOF or not

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[vladmir_illych_lenin]

Hmmm...
I've never actually completed a high score game. I've got two King level games that have real potential: 400% and I only have 200 million people and no future techs and no spaceship yet, and it's not even 1800 yet. They have not been touched for a while and I do not have the patience to finish them.

 

[willemvanoranje]

I always 'just play'. I'm a veteran Prince-level, and I can handle King, but emperor gives me some real big problems, I'm kicked out of that by other about 50% of the time. I never tryed Deity.

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Concordia res parvae cres****.

 

[Johan511]

You have to "Just Play" cause score means **** man, if you playin for high score then you've lost what the game means in itself. I know the thing about the GOTM is everytime I load a new game I know that me and about 50 others are about to embark on the same world, I care about the score alittle more then, but really it's all the fasination with, "I wonder what Sun Tzu or Shadowdale are going through right now...That's why I can't wait for Deity!=)
Especially for me and Smash, what a square off!!, such a great time <IMG SRC="http://forums.civfanatics.com/ubb/smile.gif" border=0>

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[This message has been edited by Johan511 (edited April 04, 2001).]

 

[rotts123]

I got CivII when it came out and haven't played in about 2 years. I just moved into a new apartment this month and when I was setting up my computer I saw the CivII icon. I thought to myself, maybe I should see if I still have the touch. I set up a random map Deity game with raging hordes and 7 civilizations. A week later I finished up with a respectable score of 717%. My new roommate has not even seen me anywhere except at the computer playing CivII since I moved in. I think he is a little worried but I tried to explain that once you start a game you are locked in. The long dormant CivII bug strikes.

 

[Archbob]

I usually go for high score since I've already betan this game 5 million times.

 

[Supernaut]

Originally posted by rotts123:
I got CivII when it came out and haven't played in about 2 years. I just moved into a new apartment this month and when I was setting up my computer I saw the CivII icon. I thought to myself, maybe I should see if I still have the touch. I set up a random map Deity game with raging hordes and 7 civilizations. A week later I finished up with a respectable score of 717%. My new roommate has not even seen me anywhere except at the computer playing CivII since I moved in. I think he is a little worried but I tried to explain that once you start a game you are locked in. The long dormant CivII bug strikes.

I know how you feel - it is a very bad scene. I played CIV when I was at uni and hadn't touched the stuff since then I got a cheap copy of TOT just before Christmas, and it has been down hill ever since. The worst of it is that I've recently bought my own place, and there is loads of painting and DIY to be done...

 

[Supernaut]

Originally posted by Fallen Angel Lord:
I usually go for high score since I've already betan this game 5 million times.

I agree. I tend to find that either I win fairly easily or not at all, so when I get into that 'home straight' feeling, I like to play till the last year to see how high a percentage I can get. It's a way of competing against myself - also I like to see a well developed planet by the time I finish. There is something about having a whole continent covered in farmland and railways that just appeals to me